Alien Technology Receives $38 Million in Funding

“Alien Technology Corporation announced today the closing of its Series F round of financing. The round, which was led by Advanced Equities Inc, totaled $38 million.”

More Top Companies Eye RFID Technology’s Potential - Computerworld

“New York-based Amex this month launched a pilot project to test a system called ExpressPay, which uses RFID chips that are embedded in key chains and can be linked to any major credit or debit card.”

London transport smartcard uses RFID-style technology

“Radio frequency identification (RFID) style technology is behind the Oyster smartcard, which was launched last week to improve travel around London. The card, which removes the need for cash when buying tickets, is the first of its kind in the UK and aims to provide faster passage for the six million users of London’s transport network.”

Siemens Dematic Successfully Completes RFID Integration Testing with Matrics, Inc.

“Siemens Dematic teamed with Matrics, Inc. (http://www.matrics.com ), a provider of UHF EPC-compliant RFID technology and visibility solutions, to successfully implement a conveying and sorting test loop where 100% read rates and diverts were achieved. The prototype demonstrates the ability to read discrete cartons in sequence at rates in excess of 200 cartons per minute with a minimum carton gap of six inches. Rates are measured using various cartons sizes without regard to label orientation or product density.”

100% read rate? Seems unlikely.  

new byte 2,0 - IT News with speed

“Playboy’s European video and central broadcasting studio in England wants to equip all its 11’000 of master volumes with RFID labels of Philips, in order to find it better within the building.”

Translation by the Fish.  

Wired News: Euro Scheme Makes Money Talk

“Euro cash could be embedded with radio frequency identification tags if a reported deal between the European Central Bank and Hitachi becomes reality. The bank is working on a hush-hush project to embed RFIDs, wireless transponders the size of a grain of sand, into the fibers of euro bank notes to foil would-be counterfeiters. The bills currently have a number of security marks, including threads that glow under ultraviolet light, but as the euros wear thin, these are less perceptible. If the deal goes through, it will be a boon to the nascent RFID industry, which has long been in search of a market. However, consumer privacy advocates have questions about other possible uses of the tags.”

iTnews

“”You could simply put a reader device into a doorway and you would know what everyone was carrying as they walked in,” Katherine Albrecht, founder and director of Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering (CASPIAN), said. “It would be like an electronic frisk.””